SR1365 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1365 LRB099 16209 MST 40537 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, South Asians are individuals who derive their ethnic origins from the Indian Subcontinent, made up of countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; and

WHEREAS, South Asians hold a high risk of heart attack and stroke that has often been overlooked; this increased risk is due to a variety of factors, ranging from genetics to lifestyle choices; and

WHEREAS, South Asians are at 4 times greater risk for heart disease than the general population; amongst South Asian men, 25% of heart attacks occur under the age of 40 and 50% occur under the age of 50; South Asian women have a 30% increased risk of heart disease when compared to Caucasians and a 325% increased risk when compared to the Chinese; South Asians make up 17% of the world population, but hold 60% of the world's cardiovascular disease burden; and

WHEREAS, The South Asian Cardiovascular Center is the first of its kind in the Midwest designed to serve the South Asian community; the aim of the Center is to educate, screen, prevent, and treat South Asians for their high risk of cardiac disease; and

WHEREAS, The South Asian Cardiovascular Center provides a combination of hospital and outpatient clinical services to assure individuals and their families a comfortable and culturally sensitive experience; and

WHEREAS, The South Asian Cardiovascular Center's outreach efforts are intended to inspire change and provide options to live a heart healthy lifestyle; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare February 10, 2016 as Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the South Asian Cardiovascular Center as an expression of our esteem and respect.